Mr Appleby stressed that the Trust's immediate priority was to 'get off' the Birch Hill site within the next two years and to relocate, as far as possible, all services to the Infirmary site.

But he warned there was uncertainty about the future siting of the renal dialysis unit, which services the north east sector of the Trust.

A review of children's services in Greater Manchester was currently underway, Mr Appleby said, and that will have an impact on Rochdale paedeatric service. The Trust was not the master of its own destiny.

He said the results of the review would be known in the autumn at the earliest.

Questioned about phase two for the Infirmary by Councillor Rowen, Mr Appleby said the sale of the land at Birch Hill would play a big part.

He said: "We are talking about a big chunk of income, several millions, which would be used to carry out phase two."

Mr Appleby also pointed out that the Birch Hill money would also have to fund the mental health services in the town as well as the community services.

Phase two, he added, would mean major development at the Infirmary in the shape of refurbishment and re-building. The Trust was working on a two-year time scale.

Another meeting of the group is planned for six month's time or earlier, if the results of the children's services review emerge before then.

Councillor Rowen said afterwards: "It is my view that without a commitmnent to phase two at the Infirmary, Rochdale will see more and more services lost or downgraded."